Surgical wound care - open

Surgical incision care; Open wound care

An incision is a cut through the skin that is made during surgery. It is also called a surgical wound. Some incisions are small, others are long. The size of the incision depends on the kind of surgery you had.

Sometimes, an incision breaks open. This may happen along the entire cut or just part of it. Your doctor may decide not to close it again with sutures (stitches).

What to Expect at Home

If your doctor does not close your wound again with sutures, you need to care for it at home, since it may take time to heal. The wound will heal from the bottom to the top. A dressing helps absorb drainage and keep the skin from closing before the wound underneath fills in.

Proper Handwashing

It is important to clean your hands before you change your dressing. You can use an alcohol-based cleanser. Or, you can wash your hands using these steps:

Take all jewelry off your hands.

Wet your hands, pointing them downward under warm running water.

Add soap and wash your hands for 15 to 30 seconds (sing "Happy Birthday" or the "Alphabet Song" one time through). Clean under your nails also.

Rinse well.

Dry with a clean towel.

Removing the Old Dressing

Your health care provider will tell you how often to change your dressing. To prepare for the dressing change:

Change your dressing

Your health care provider has covered your wound with a wet-to-dry dressing. With this type of dressing, a wet (or moist) gauze dressing is put on y...

Proper hand washing - illustration

Steps for proper handwashing include. 1. Take off any jewelry. 2. Wet your hands with clean water. 3. Apply soap and lather your hands by rubbing them together for at least 20 seconds. 4. Make sure you also lather the back of the hands, between the fingers, and under the nails. Rinse well. 5. Dry with a clean towel or air dry. Proper hand washing is the best way to avoid spreading germs to help prevent infection.

Proper hand washin...

Illustration

Proper hand washing - illustration

Steps for proper handwashing include. 1. Take off any jewelry. 2. Wet your hands with clean water. 3. Apply soap and lather your hands by rubbing them together for at least 20 seconds. 4. Make sure you also lather the back of the hands, between the fingers, and under the nails. Rinse well. 5. Dry with a clean towel or air dry. Proper hand washing is the best way to avoid spreading germs to help prevent infection.

Careers

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CommunityCare is just as dedicated to our employees as we are to our customers and our business. We make it a priority to provide our staff with all the tools necessary to have a long, fruitful career with our company.